Page 106 of Violet

Stephan

“Princess, breathe,” I whisper.

I know she’s going to try and run. I lock eyes with her and then, pitching my Alpha voice low to her, I command, “Stay. Please.”

I don’t know where thepleasecomes from. It isn’t necessary, but there’s something so fucking heartbreaking about her that I’m compelled.

She’s gorgeous. A dream.

I know she would rather us be doing this in a tiny chapel with just family. She doesn’t like this fanfare the Monarch insisted on. But the dress, though, the dress is perfect.

“You’re beautiful. Stay. Be my mate.”

Her eyes shimmer and a small smile breaks free. “Okay.”

One of the Council members, someone under Sophine, is dressed in robes and heavy gold jewelry and officiates the ceremony. Sophine is in the front row, staring directly at me, with all the other Council members. But Penrith is with the Gardeners and there’s something about that which makes me happy.

The officiant begins the vows, offering us the platitudes about the importance of the mark, how she must now mark me after we’re mated to complete the unbreakable bond, the bond that means she’s mine to protect, to breed, to love forever more. And she’s there to bear my children, remain loyal, and to honor me.

It’s archaic bullshit and yet…the words resound through me.

“You may mark your mate, Violet.”

I lift her veil, dotted with tiny violets, and I can see her pulse throb and leap near my mark. I reach out, pushing into the reddened flesh there.

Her eyes flare at my touch, her cheeks turn a pretty pink. I take a step closer, and at the officiant’s nod, I offer her my throat.

For a moment there’s panic, but the lust my touch and small bite set off crushes that, and she puts one hand on my waist and the other on my cleanly shaven cheek, and then…

Oh, fuck me.

Violet bites me, her teeth setting off a fire, scratching an itch as she then sucks. It’s like she’s sucking my cock, taking it all the way down to the back of her throat, on her knees and naked in front of me, everything mine for the taking.

The bite, her soft licks and sucking motions,reverberate through every cell and go on seemingly forever yet only for an instant.

When she stops, I think I look as dazed as she does.

“Now you may kiss.”

When I kiss her, she’s even sweeter, and that circle of connection from the fresh bites is strong. Her desire is mine. It beats in me even as it flows in her.

“Ashford,” Heath hisses, and I dutifully break the kiss.

But the fresh memory of her tongue in my mouth licks at my cock, and though I’m managing not to have a scandalous erection in the cathedral, I can feel her temperature rise, her slick juices flow, and honestly, I’m not sure how I’m going to get through the reception without ripping off her dress.

But the ceremony is done, and we head down the aisle together as mates.

I can’t stop touching her. My princess is a vision, and I’m dying to get at whatever she’s wearing under her dress.

Of course, I’m going to have to work out sex. I can control coming, I know that, but with her…

Clea’s here, and I’m hoping she brought the thing I asked her for late last night when Heath had finally gone to his room and passed out. There are some things you never want your friend to know about, especially when he’s the overprotective brother of your mate.

Mate… The word washes through me, in all its meanings.

“How are your first hours of being my mate?” I whisper in her ear. Thank fuck for some traditions, like dancing at the reception; it means I can touch her all I want. Within reason.

“Surreal.”

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